Big spending Manchester City have bagged long-term target Roque Santa Cruz

Manchester City have finally completed the signing of Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz, paying a reported £18 million to prize him away from Blackburn.

The former Bayern Munich front man has been linked with a move to big-spending City since January and will hope to recapture the form that saw him score 73 Fantasy League points in the 2007/08 season.

Santa Cruz becomes City's second big name arrival of the summer following the deal that brought Gareth Barry to the club and reports suggest he could soon be joined by fellow striker Carlos Tevez.

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes bought Santa Cruz to England while he was in charge at Blackburn and he proved an instant success, scoring 23 goals in his debut season in the Premier League.

The two are now back together at the City of Manchester Stadium and Santa Cruz is looking for a fresh start after an injury blighted campaign last year restricted him to just 16 FL appearances, four goals and a lowly 16 points.

The 27-year-old made his debut for Olimpia in his homeland aged just 16 and went on to win the Paraguay Player of the Year award two years later.

He spent eight years at Bayern Munich, winning the league, Champions League and Intercontinental Cup treble in 2001 and played in the 2006 World Cup.

Santa Cruz could make a swift return to Ewood Park however, as Manchester City kick-off the 2009/10 season away at Blackburn Rovers.